Two years in country

I apologize for being so lax with the blog over the past few months. Life has certainly continued, even if I have been unwilling or unable to catalogue it in digital form. I’ve been visiting new sites, planning for another set of youth camps, enjoying Thanksgiving in Panama, Christmas at home with family and friends, and New Years with friends in Panama City. Now I get two more months to enjoy my site without school. Let me tell you: summer in Panama is wonderful. Sun, a light breeze, and time to do whatever your heart desires.

The past week or so has been especially fantastic. During the day I have been doing light work, answering phone calls and e-mails, preparing for the camps, one of which begins Monday. I have also started learning French with Rosetta Stone. Still trying to go polyglot. Not about to stop anytime soon! In the evening I have either gone to Christmas mass at my church or have hung out with neighborhood kids. I pull out my bike and then suddenly kids appear out of nowhere. It’s like they can smell fun. I’m getting more free food than I know what to do with, extra meals and plastic bags overflowing with oranges, which are in season right now.

It’s a horribly bittersweet feeling. I enjoy every moment and now see what I should have been doing with my community from the start. On the other hand I have less than two months left. Why haven’t I been doing this from the start?? Better late than never. I’d venture to say that these past few months have been the most fulfilling of all during my service, and I believe that momentum will continue.

I really want to commemorate today with a post because today, January 11th, is the day two years ago when I first touched down in Panama. Time is running out for my service. I officially COS (Close-of-Service turned into a verb, part of the Peace Corps vernacular) on February 28th. I hear the words coming from my mouth, but I cannot believe it yet. “Yes, the end of February. Yes, I know it’s soon.” Surreal.

Now I begin to hear again the same questions I heard before Peace Corps was a reality. “What are you going to do with yourself now?”

My life options are laid out before me. There are several, only one of which would keep me close to home. That option certainly has its draw, especially if I could couple a Peace Corps recruiter position with a writer’s program known as Write a House. Look it up. It sounds great. I feel the city of Detroit calling to me. And of course, being close to my family would certainly be nice.

Then again, this journey has taught me that I have so much to learn from outside my original stomping ground. I want to continue to travel the world. One option is El Salvador with a short-term position known as Peace Corps Response. Another would be in China working essentially as a college counselor helping students prepare for university in the States. Both sound like great options.

I suppose I will just have to go wherever life leads me. By that, of course, I’ll go wherever someone accepts me into their job/program.

Nothing in that category is certain. What is certain, however, is that I am in a good place. I will continue to enjoy bike rides up and down the one gravel road of my town, free bananas (and suggestions to make banana bread), day trips to the river and weekend trips to the beach. And I will gladly go wherever life takes me, knowing very well that it will bring new lessons with it.